English Composition Enlarged, (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1912 Excerpt: ... XII. ENGLISH GRAMMAR 188. English Grammar is a systematic statement of the principles and the usages of the English language. The principles are derived from a study of the development of the language. The authority upon which usage rests is largely the standard literature of modern times. This is necessarily so, because language is constantly changing. Many words and idioms once in current use are now obsolete or obsolescent. One needs only to turn the pages of Shakespeare's plays for evidence of the differences in vocabulary, in meaning of words, and in idiom between our day and the Elizabethan age. More striking than the loss of words or the changes in meaning is the rapid increase in the number of words in the vocabulary. Every new invention and discovery demands new words. Dictionary makers find it difficult to keep abreast of the age. EXERCISES A. From Scott's Ivanhoe or from Coleridge's Ancient Mariner make a list of ten words likely to be unfamiliar to the ordinary reader. B. Give five new words that have come into current use in connection with some recent inventions or discoveries. C. What was the original meaning of the words, nice, awful, lovely, fine, write, read, sad, glad. By what steps have they come to have their present meanings? Which of them do you think are most frequently misused? D. Can you give four common idioms current in your community that are likely to become reputable English because of people's persistence in using them? E. Mention five of the commonest ungrammatical expressions that you hear. How do you account for their prevalence? F. In an unabridged dictionary, look up the history of the words, silly, knave, sanctimonious, naughty. GRAMMATICAL ELEMENTS 189. Words, phrases, and clauses are called the grammatical elements. 1...